Verbier: reviews and practical tips

Verbier, the legendary home of alpine backcountry skiing

From the sunny plateau where it clings at an altitude of 1500 metres, the ski resort of Verbier opens access to the Quatre Vallées ski area, one of the most expansive skiing domains in Switzerland. At the summit, Mont-Fort reaches an altitude of 3300 metres and rolls out a panorama over the Combins massif, the Matterhorn, and Mont Blanc.

Why visit Verbier

Verbier has built a reputation that reaches far beyond Swiss borders as a true playground for demanding backcountry skiers. The resort hosts l'Xtreme de Verbier every year, a freeride competition contested on the dizzying slopes of the Bec des Rosses since 1996. This renown draws an international clientele looking for vertical drops that few other alpine resorts can match.

Skiing and backcountry in the Quatre Vallées

The ski area offers 410 kilometres of slopes, complemented by seven marked ungroomed routes reserved for experienced skiers. Among the trails that built the legend of the domain are the Mont-Gelé, the Mur de Chassoure, and the col des Mines.

On the southern slope, the Savoleyres gondola lift provides access to a different, more approachable side of the domain.

The Quatre Vallées ski area also shelters Europe's highest zipline. It starts from the summit of Mont-Fort and flies over the Tortin glacier down to the col des Gentianes, covering a vertical drop of 383 metres along nearly a kilometre and a half of cable.

A resort that also caters to families

A winter camp for children and teenagers

Operating in Verbier since 1987, a winter camp for children and teenagers managed by les Elfes welcomes boarding students aged 6 to 17 years old from mid-December to late April. Stays last from one to four weeks, with arrivals every Saturday.

The program includes six hours of skiing or snowboarding per day in groups of no more than seven students per instructor, lunch at a private restaurant at 2200 metres, optional language classes, weekly excursions, and round-the-clock supervision.

Cross-country skiing and sledding

Verbier is not just about big mountain skiing. The resort offers snowshoeing and cross-country ski trails that are much more accessible for beginners. At La Tzoumaz, the longest sledding run in French-speaking Switzerland extends across 10 kilometres of descent with roughly 700 metres of vertical drop.

Friendly tip: to reach the slopes, two main starting points are available: Médran or the Mayentset chairlift. On the southern slope, prefer the Savoleyres gondola lift. Ski lifts generally operate between 8:45 AM and 5:00 PM depending on their location, and the resort opens every year from November to April.